Johannesburg Water showed off a newly constructed R267-million water purification unit on Wednesday to reduce raw sewerage spilled into rivers.

"This is a major project," said Ntshavheni Mukwevho, Johannesburg Water general manager of capital investment.

The construction of Unit 5 was completed in July this year. It pumps out 50 megalitres of water a day that is clean enough to flow back into rivers and streams.

The project, north of Johannesburg was commissioned in 2004 to deal with the increasing amount of water being used in Johannesburg. - Sapa